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Dozier wins Twins' defensive award

Dozier wins Twins' defensive award

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By Rhett Bollinger
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MLB.com |

MINNEAPOLIS -- Brian Dozier was rewarded for his stellar defense in 2013 on Thursday night, as he was named the Twins' Wilson Defensive Player of the Year.

Each Major League team had a winner, while Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was named the best defensive player in the American League and D-backs outfielder Gerardo Parra was named the best defensive player in the National League. The Royals and Orioles tied for best defensive team in the AL, while the D-backs were named the best defensive team in the NL. The winners were announced on MLB Network.

Founded last year, the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award winners are determined by using a formula that balances scouting information, sabermetric analysis and basic fielding statistics. Denard Span was Minnesota's inaugural winner in '12.

Dozier, 26, thrived defensively at second base last season after moving there from his natural shortstop position.

Dozier's .992 fielding percentage ranked tied for fourth among qualified second basemen in the Majors. He also ranked first in assists with 461, third in putouts with 267 and second in double plays turned with 99.

Among advanced metrics, Dozier ranked fifth among MLB second basemen in Defensive Runs Saved with nine while leading all AL second basemen in Range Factor with 5.22, which is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by innings played. He also ranked sixth in the AL among qualified second basemen in Ultimate Zone Rating.

It earned him the nod as the club's top defensive player over other solid defenders such as shortstop Pedro Florimon and catcher Joe Mauer. Mauer was named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award but lost out to Royals backstop Salvador Perez.

There are more defensive awards to be handed out, as the GIBBY trophy for Defensive Player of the Year will be awarded as part of the 2013 Greatness in Baseball Yearly Awards, which are based on voting by media, front-office personnel, MLB alumni and the Society for American Baseball Research, as well as fan balloting on MLB.com.

Voting launched on Oct. 31 and will continue through Dec. 1. Fans will be able to cast their ballots at MLB.com for the year's top defensive star, with no individual league affiliation.